Tyler Collins put Sydney up 1-0 with a 2nd inning HR.

Blue Sox take Gm. 3, Aces on brink of elimination

Thomas, Dening help Sydney to 2-1 series lead

MELBOURNE, 3 February -

The Blue Sox dominated throughout Game Three of their ConocoPhillips ABL Postseason Round Two series against the Aces, leading the entire game on their way to a 6-2 victory. Brad Thomas was outstanding on the mound, allowing just five men to reach base in seven innings, striking out six. Mitch Dening led the offensive charge for Sydney, connecting for a pair of home runs and four RBI.
The Blue Sox got on the board first when Tyler Collins crushed a solo home run off Melbourne starter Nic Ungs in the second inning. They added two more in the third when Dening hit the first of his two blasts, a two-run shot that cleared the right field wall.

Other than those costly homers, Ungs pitched a good game for Melbourne. He ended up being charged with five earned runs when two of his men inherited by Bubbie Buzachero scored following his seventh inning departure, but he struck out ten and didn't walk a batter.

Unfortunately for Ungs and the Aces, this was a night when they needed near-flawless pitching to succeed. Thomas had his longest start of the year for Sydney, going seven strong innings and surrendering just four hits, three of which came off the bat of Elliot Biddle. His final inning was the only frame in which two hitters reached base, but he got out of it by forcing a Ben Knuth groundout, leaving his team with a five-run lead. He needed just 69 pitches to get through his seven innings, throwing 52 of them for strikes.

The Blue Sox added their final three runs in the seventh on Dening's second home run, another two-run blast. Sydney's top two batters, David Kandilas and Dening, combined for three runs scored and five RBI in the game.

Melbourne's Justin Huber continued his outstanding Postseason performance, picking up two more base hits and homering for the second straight game. He now has 10 RBI in seven Postseason contests. Biddle broke out of his recent funk with three hits of his own, and the five hits between these two were the only ones the Aces got on this night.

Sydney now has a 2-1 advantage in this best-of-five series and sits just one win away from a trip to Perth for the 2012 ConocoPhillips ABL Championship Series. Game Four at Melbourne Showgrounds will begin Sunday afternoon at 3:05PM. If the Aces win to force a deciding fifth game, it will begin half an hour following the conclusion of Game Four.

Raul Valdes launched tomorrow against Puerto Rico.

Valdez grateful that he was called by the board of Leones to reinforce the team

Raul Valdes "I feel good to throw tomorrow"

The star pitcher Raul Valdes announced that he will pitch for the Dominican Republic against Puerto Rico, he said last night that he is ready for Saturday's game in the continuation of the Caribbean Series.

The left-hander, who gave a masterful job at the end of winter baseball season representing the Cibao Eagles, was chosen as reinforcement for the Escogido Lions.

He said he was pleased and proud to pitch for the country "the doors have been opened to welcome me and the fans have shown very much love for me. They are great fans."

He said that this is his third time pitching in the Caribbean Series when he threw in Venezuela and then in Puerto Rico.

He said his arm is rested and he is ready to pitch on Saturday (tomorrow) against the Puerto Ricans.

He reiterated that he always exercises in the gym which has led him to not put ice and massaging after pitching a game.

Valdes hopes that the national team achieved the title and said he sees a lot of enthusiasm and optimism among the players in the field.

The Venezuelans trailed for six innings 2-0 against the Dominicans. They got their first run in their home half of the seventh inning on a couple of basehits. With runners on first and third, trailing 2-1 and 2 outs, Cesar Suarez laid one down perfectly splitting the distance between the line and the pitcher mound and fielded by the shortstop much too late to get Suarez at first. Miguel Rojas was on third and scored easily as Arague tied the game at 2 in the 7th still batting with runner on first and second and two out. Awesome!

Flyball retires the side. As they showed in the championship series against the Aguilas, the Lions have "been there before". End of 7, Venezuela 2 Dominican 2.

Free baseball from the Dominican. Venezuela 2 Dominican 2 after regulation.

Lucky 13 for the Dominicans. They just put up 3 in the 13th.

Dom. Rep. Top of the 13th

Pedro Florimon walked.
Jose Constanza out on a sacrifice bunt.
Pedro Florimon to 2nd.
Pablo Ozuna walked.
Andy Dirks singled.
Pedro Florimon scores.
Pablo Ozuna to 3rd.
Andy Dirks to 2nd on the throw.
Jon Hunton intentionally walks Mauro Gomez.
Pitcher Change: Francisco Butto replaces Jon Hunton.
Erick Almonte doubled.
Pablo Ozuna scored.
Andy Dirks scored.
Mauro Gomez to 3rd.
Julio Lugo popped.
Francisco Butto intentionally walked Julio Borbon.
Francisco Pena flied out.
Dominican Republic 5 Venezuela 2.

Andy Dirks has been a clutch hitter for the Lions. He's the one that got the Leones to this series batting in the winning run with his basehit against the Aguilas in that 9th game of the championship series

Ascencio with a perfect 13th sets the Araguans down in order. Final Dominican Republic 5 Venezuela 2. Dominican 2-0, Venezuela, 0-2, Mexico 1-1, and Puerto Rico 1-1.

Miguel Tejada: "I wanted to play with RD"

With Aguilas he hopes to play next season then retire


Shortstop Miguel Tejada had a desire that he could not meet despite being something he never thought would happen. "I felt bad because I think I have represented this country in many Caribbean Series and really wanted to be there, but how you say, it is the Lions, it's their team and they make their decisions and their players deserve to be there.

I hope next year with the Aguilas they may become champions and then I go with my team to the Caribbean Series, "Tejada said today while watching the game between Mexico and the Dominican Republic sitting on a yellow seat from which in the past, the crowd cheered his name .

Tejada, who has a career average of .347 with 13 home runs in 11 appearances in the Caribbean Series, said he had clear plans to retire after performing in the Caribbean Series.

"From the beginning when I played here I said I would like to enter the Caribbean Series, no matter with who because this could have been my last. I wanted to do it in my country, but not, so I am planning to retire next year in Mexico," he said. And although he respects the decision of Escogido, states that it is clear that if it were another team, I would be there. "I think in this country there are two team to which I belong. I am part, Licey and part Aguilas. If I was a part of this series, I would have been happy because I would have fulfilled my wish," he said.

Dominican showcase takes new approach

By Jesse Sanchez / MLB.com | 02/03/12 9:56 PM EST

BOCA CHICA, Dominican Republic --

A large group of eager teenagers took their first step toward their big league dreams and Major League Baseball took another step forward in Latin America on the first day of the Venezuela-Dominican Republic Showcase on Friday at the Mets complex.

"The goal was to get all of the best talent in the Dominican Republic competing against all of the best talent in Venezuela and to try to create a compact and convenient format for all of the clubs and all of the scouts to come evaluate these players," said Kim Ng, senior vice president of baseball operations for Major League Baseball. "To get all of this in two days is big for everybody."

Twenty-five prospects from each country displayed their skills in front of more than 200 big league scouts in a series of drills that included the 60-yard dash, infield, outfield and batting practice before wrapping up with a six-inning game. A doubleheader is scheduled for Saturday.

"For us, it's a great advantage because it reduces the time investment on finding these guys," said Carlos Gomez, director of international scouting for the D-backs. "It's really convenient and everybody is here. I wish this was more than a two-day event. I wish it was three or four days. Here you get to see the best of the best."

Major League Baseball previously held similar showcases in Venezuela and the Dominican Republic last year, but Friday's showcase was the first to combine players from the two countries on the same field. Representatives from all 30 teams were at the event, including Omar Minaya, senior vice president of baseball operations for the Padres, and Paul DePodesta, vice president of player development and amateur scouting for the Mets.

"I think it's terrific," DePodesta said. "I think that it's great that so many people are interested in it, not only internationally but from the domestic side. I think it's a great sign for the game and I think it shows how much talent there is internationally. In the United States, we have showcases like the Area Code Games, where we bring in kids from all over, and it's really not any different than a situation like this."

That said, times are changing in the Dominican Republic.

Tryouts are no longer the only way for scouts to evaluate talent and more showcases that feature games with the top prospects could become commonplace in the future. Last year, Major League Baseball created the tournament, known as El Torneo Supremo (The Supreme Tournament), for prospects on the island. Other leagues for prospects have also emerged on the island.

"Guys are not going to make decision based on today's showcase, but it does add to the evaluation," said Rafael Perez, director of Dominican operations for Major League Baseball.

"Money is at stake and it's a fierce competition. This is exciting and it's more exciting for the Venezuelans. Some people are still intimidated about the country and don't feel completely comfortable going to Venezuela, so they can see them here."

The rules of the game are also changing for the Dominican Republic, making showcases like Friday important for all clubs who sign amateur players from Latin America.

In accordance with the new Collective Bargaining Agreement, the international system will operate with a pool and penalties for exceeding that pool. For the 2012-13 signing period, every team will have the same pool of $2.9 million. Starting in 2013-14, the pools will be based on the prior season's winning percentage, with a range of approximately $1.7 million to $4.8 million.

Major League Baseball is also trying to maintain some equity in the system, mandating that all international players must be registered with the MLB Scouting Bureau in order to be eligible to sign. It's a direct parallel to how the Draft system works in North America, and directly affects players born in the Dominican Republic.

Also created in the new CBA was the International Talent Committee, a group that includes Ng, that could recommend changes to the ages at which international amateur players are eligible to be signed, regulations for international amateurs' agents and how Cuban players should be treated due to their political realities. Chief among the subjects will be the potential creation of an International Draft.

Last month, the committee agreed to broaden its resources by identifying and seeking partnerships with a wide variety of outside sources with direct knowledge of international baseball operations and cultures during its first official meeting.

In 2000, Major League Baseball opened an office in Santo Domingo to oversee its Dominican operation and hired Perez to serve as the senior manager of Latin American Baseball Operations. He joined the Mets in 2005 but returned to the Dominican office last year.

"It's about bringing some more structure. It's about the process," Ng said. "We hired Raffy back in the fall and I think he can tell you all about all of the office's functions now compared to when it started. The issues are greater, wider and there is more at stake. We want to take a leadership role in helping the clubs provide good services to the players at their academies. It's about communicating with each other in a little more structured way."

Events like the Venezuela-Dominican Showcase provide the perfect setting.

"This event was about bringing together the top talent for the clubs to see," Ng said. "It's about seeing them on field at one time and competing against each other. It's baseball in its simplest and purest form. For me and the staff it's been a lot of fun to watch, and I think for a lot of people here it's been a lot of fun to watch."

Jesse Sanchez is a national reporter for MLB.com. Follow him on Twitter @JesseSanchezMLB. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

5 Dominican, Venezuela 2

SANTO DOMINGO . -

The Escogido Lions had to struggle for 13 innings against the Aragua Tigers, but in the end the effort was worth it. Andy Dirks, who had been the hero in the last game of the finals against the Cibao Eagles, broke a tie with two runs and Erick Almonte hit a double that opened the game up and lead to a victory of the local team of 5-2 .

What it means.

The agony and marathon result left both teams at the ends of the series. The Dominicans will wake up as leaders of the tournament undefeated with two wins no losses, while the Venezuelan combined has fallen on both games and is the sole owner of the basement of the tournament.

13 of the luck.

After being silenced by Venezuelan relievers much of the night, the Lions managed to take off the yoke in the lower 13th. Dirks's single to right field against Jon Hunton, who committed the sin of walking the leadoff batter, drove in from second Peter Florimón and broke the deadlock of two runs. Almonte increased the advantage connecting a hit the wall against Francisco Butto driving in two more runs

Suicide.

When it appeared that the Tigers bats were asleep, they woke up in the bottom of the seventh. Ken Oberkfell let left-hander Juan Perez in to start the seventh against the wave of right-handed hitters. Dominated by Gustavo Molina. Luis Maza walked and Miguel Rojas singled. Edgardo Alfonzo would then pinch hit for Jose Cabrera, and responded with an RBI. A brilliant suicidal squeeze by Cesar Suarez drove in Rojas from third base for the equalizer. The Tigers were 0-6 with runners in scoring position and had received eight strikeouts.

Padlocks.

Both teams bullpen dominated the game since Buddy Bailey took the ball from Tyson Brummett with two outs in the fifth. Up until that last inning against Jon Hunton, the only runs that were allowed by firefighters of the Lions and Tigers were the two that marked the seventh inning for the Venezuelans. For the rest, they were attacked but never folded their hand. Jerry Gil, Merkin Valdez (winner) and closer Jairo Asencio (CV) were the unsung heroes of Lions.

Missed opportunity.

The Tigers had the potential winning run on second base in the bottom of the tenth, but as is customary in these two days, failed to score. After Cesar Suarez's base hit sacrifice by Hector Gimenez, neither Alex Nunez nor Gustavo Molina were able to capitalize.

The play.

Miguel Rojas is having a great Caribbean Series for Aragua. The shortstop started a double play in the top of the tenth with the bases loaded, diving head first towards second to grab a hard hit liner off the bat of Jose Constanza. From the ground he passed the ball to Hernandez, who made the quick turn at second and with a strong throw to first completed the double play.

As always.

The veteran Lorenzo Barcelo, started for the Dominican Republic as a reinforcement from the Aguilas Cibaenas and did what he does best, throw strikes, change speeds and stay out of trouble with walks. For five innings, he went crazy against Venezuelans hitters and said goodbye after giving up a single by Cesar Suarez at the close of the sixth inning. He struck out six and did not grant any passports. He made ​​66 pitches and 14 were balls.

The council.

The Dominicans struck first to score one run in the fourth inning. Already with two outs and Andy Dirks at third base, Tyson Brummett received a visit from pitching coach Greg Sabat, who would come to talk about the next hitter, Erick Almonte. But Brummett left a pitch in the middle of the plate and the third baseman returned it for a hit to left. Although Julio Lugo followed with a double, the threat ended when Julio Borbon grounded out to the pitcher.

He who does not.

Barceló attacked the Tigers in the lower fourth. Pablo Ozuna struck out swinging. Andy Dirks singled and stole second. Mauro Gomez grounded and Andy Dirks advanced to third. Erick Almonte singled drivng in Andy Dirks. Julio Lugo doubled and Erick Almonte went to third. Julio Borbon attempting to bunt for a base hit grounded out pitcher to first.

I do ...

Brummett lasted until the top of the fifth. With one out Pedro Florimon doubled. Jose Constanza grounded out as Pedro Florimon advanced to third. Pablo Ozuna singled driving home Pedro Florimon

What follows.

Venezuela Tigers return to the field tomorrow. In the first game, they will face the Yaquis of Mexico. For this confrontation, Venezuelans will have the services of American Brian Swenney. The Dominican Lions clash against the Indians of Puerto Ricans. Cuban Raul Valdes will start for the Lions.

Ayala in familiar role at Caribbean Series

Veteran again pitching for Mexico without big league job

By Jesse Sanchez / MLB.com | 02/03/12 11:17 PM EST

SANTO DOMINGO --

From the Yaquis to the Yankees last season, Luis Ayala is familiar with the road he is on now.

A year ago, the right-hander took the mound for Mexico's Obregon squad during the Caribbean Series without a job in the United States and ended up signing a Minor League deal with New York a few days after the round-robin ended.

On Friday, Ayala stepped on the rubber for Obregon again, this time against Puerto Rico's Indios de Mayaguez, and, just like last year, he's in search of one more shot at the big leagues. Whether he gets another chance or not is to be determined. One thing is certain: The veteran is not ready to call it quits anytime soon.

"Fortunately, my participation in the Caribbean Series last year gave me chance at a contract with the Yankees," Ayala, 34, said. "Here I am in the same situation, a free agent again after another year in the Major Leagues having a little bit of a hard time signing. I haven't had any good offers but I'm confident that, God permits, I will get a chance to pitch for a team that will allow me to show my abilities."

Ayala is off to a good start. The veteran was perfect in 1 2/3 innings and picked up the save in Mexico's 2-0 win against Puerto Rico in Friday afternoon's game. On Saturday, Ayala should get another chance to pitch when Mexico (1-2) faces Venezuela's Tigres de Aragua in the matinee, followed by Puerto Rico (1-1) against the Dominican Republic's Escogido squad in the nightcap.

Detroit's Andy Dirks hit an RBI single in the top of the 13th inning to break a 2-2 tie, and Milwaukee's Erick Almonte drove in two more runs to pace the Dominican Republic (2-0) to a 5-2 victory against Venezuela (0-2) in the second game Friday to remain undefeated. Julio Lugo also had a hit for the Dominican Republic in the victory. Almonte drove in three of Escogido's runs in the win.

"I was just waiting on my pitch and did the best I could when I had the opportunity," Almonte said. "We will rest up and come win tomorrow."

In last year's Caribbean Series, Ayala pitched five scoreless innings in four games as Mexico's closer. He allowed only two hits and picked up two saves.

The question remains: Can he keep it up this year? Ayala says he can and there is a reason why he is feeling so confident these days. He had an ERA of 0.92 with 12 saves in 19 2/3 innings this winter for Obregon.

"I feel healthy and I feel confident and I feel it's very important to show what you are capable of doing when you are healthy," he said. "I know I can get back to the big leagues. I think my numbers were pretty good when I was with the Yankees. It was a little difficult at the end because of a few ailments, but I'm confident I can do something in [the Major Leagues]."

Ayala was a pleasant surprise for New York last season, finishing with a 2-2 record and a 2.09 ERA in 56 innings for the Yankees. He does not appear to fit into New York's plans for 2012, although there are reports the club has expressed interest in bringing him back. The Astros, Angels and Orioles are also reportedly interested in the veteran.

Changing teams should not be an issue for Ayala. He's pitched for five teams -- Expos/Nationals, Mets, Twins, Marlins and Yankees -- in parts of seven big league seasons in his career. He was originally purchased from Mexico's Saltillo club by the Rockies in 1999 and then bought back by Saltillo two years later.

In 2002, the Expos purchased his contract from Saltillo and he made his debut with them the following season. The right-hander was in Washington's organization until 2008, but was traded to the Mets that year. He has been with six different Major League organizations since 2009.

That said, the uniform Ayala is wearing this week remains the most important.

"This is something that you will never forget, being in the Caribbean Series, and I'm proud to represent Mexico," Ayala said. "This is an event that has a lot of tradition and it's great to compete against the Dominican Republic, Venezuela and Puerto Rico on this level. It's an honor to defend the colors of your country."

Jesse Sanchez is a national reporter for MLB.com. Follow him on Twitter @JesseSanchezMLB. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.

Andrew Campbell


ABL announces season awards finalists

Rookie of the Year

1. Aidan Francis (Sydney Blue Sox)
Francis finished his first season tied for the team lead in wins with four. He was named pitcher of the week in Round Five.

2. Matthew Roxburgh (Brisbane Bandits)
Roxburgh had a very productive debut with the Bandits, posting 30 hits, 16 RBIs and a .283 batting average.

3. Andrew Campbell (Brisbane Bandits)
Campbell finished with a .301 batting average, 28 hits and eight RBIs.

Feb. 3 (22:55) Kyodo

Baseball: CL considers announcing starting pitchers

TOKYO -

The Central League may follow in the Pacific League's
footsteps and announce starting pitchers this season in an effort to
attract bigger crowds, several sources told Kyodo News on Friday.

''We can't deny the possibility that we could do it this
season,'' said the Chunichi Dragons' team representative Ryohei Sato,
who also chairs the CL board.

Back to work: Hawks outfielder Seiichi Uchikawa prepares for practice during the first day of spring training on Wednesday. KYODO

Thursday, Feb. 2, 2012

NPB clubs hit diamond as spring training starts

Kyodo

The 12 Japanese professional baseball teams all started spring training Wednesday in Miyazaki and Okinawa prefectures ahead of their season openers on March 30.

The Central League's Yokohama BayStars, opened camp in Okinawa's Ginowan with manager Kiyoshi Nakahata, decked out in the team's new uniforms, hitting grounders to the pitching staff.

With a change in ownership, the BayStars are hoping to climb out of the cellar for the first time in five years under Nakahata, the former Yomiuri Giants star who is in his first coaching job since leading Japan at the 2004 Athens Olympics.

Nakahata is one of four new managers in Japanese baseball this season. The three others are Morimichi Takagi (Chunichi Dragons), Yutaka Wada (Hanshin Tigers) and Hideki Kuriyama (Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters).

Former analyst Kuriyama is in his first managing gig, and will have to find a way to keep the Fighters in contention despite having lost ace Yu Darvish, who signed with the Texas Rangers via the posting system.

Kuriyama, nevertheless, was nothing but positive on his first day in the new job.

"It's hard to tell how people really think or feel until you've actually worked with them," said the former Tokyo Yakult Swallows outfielder. "I want to figure them out as soon as possible."

The Japan Series champion Fukuoka Softbank Hawks went to work in Miyazaki. Manager Koji Akiyama certainly has his work cut out for him after three pitchers in the rotation — Tsuyoshi Wada, Toshiya Sugiuchi and D.J. Houlton — parted with the team over the winter.

"We need to do everything we can to become No. 1 again," Akiyama said. "We don't have a day to waste. We have to think through everything we do."

YU DARVISH
HISASHI IWAKUMA
TSUYOSHI WADA
CHEN WEI-YIN
NORICHIKA AOKI
MUNENORI KAWASAKI

SPORTS SCOPE

Darvish deal yet another wakeup call for the NPB

By JASON COSKREY

Yu Darvish got his wish, the Texas Rangers got their man and the Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters got their money.

Hopefully, somewhere in there the NPB got a clue.

Once the Rangers agreed on a six-year $60 million deal with Darvish, the curtain finally dropped on the most gut-wrenching offseason NPB has seen in a long time.

In addition to Darvish, Hisashi Iwakuma, Tsuyoshi Wada, Chen Wei-yin, Norichika Aoki and Munenori Kawasaki are all headed to the U.S. in an incredible exodus of top-level talent which nearly also included Hiroyuki Nakajima.

On one hand, it's a testament to the level of talent present in Japanese baseball. It also, however, puts on display Japanese baseball's inability to hold on to that talent.

Baseball has a long and storied history in Japan, but unless changes are made, there is a danger of the NPB turning into a glorified feeder system for the majors — at least as it pertains to the upper echelon of players.

That's not to say there is a particular threat to Japanese baseball's viability, because there isn't and it would be irresponsible to suggest as such. The MLB and NPB will continue to coexist the way they have for years.

There is, however, a lot of room for improvement in Japan. NPB teams need to do a better job fostering a professional environment and treating their players more like stars than high-priced salarymen.

As interesting as it will be to see how Darvish fares in the majors, it would have been great for Japanese baseball to have him set the world on fire on this side of the Pacific. The MLB is currently the best baseball league in the world, but Japanese fans don't deserved to be shortchanged.

To put it more succinctly, NPB needs to give players like Darvish a reason to stay.

Major league players are used to things being first-class all the way, from travel, to lodging, to practice facilities. That's not always the case for NPB players.

Take for example the plight of the Tokyo Yakult Swallows (and their opponents), forced to stretch and warm up on a public field prior to games on days Jingu Stadium is being used by college players.

Now try to imagine a scenario in which the Los Angeles Dodgers are forced to perform pre-game activities in a public space while USC uses Dodger Stadium.

Try kicking the New York Yankees out of the Bronx for the type of three-week road trip the Hanshin Tigers deal with each year.

Major league teams also generally pay better. NPB teams can't compete with the size of MLB budgets. Then again, there are mechanisms in place in MLB to help lower-revenue teams stay competitive.

NPB teams, meanwhile, are too busy looking out for themselves to invest in bettering the game as a whole.

Japanese baseball can't set-up the MLB system — or anything close to it — but there has to be a way for the 12 clubs to come up with something where everyone benefits, which in turn can improve the environment for the players.

The MLB is the pinnacle of the sport, and there are some players who will always naturally gravitate there to follow in the footsteps of Masanori Murakami, Hideo Nomo, Ichiro Suzuki and Hideki Matsui.

That's something beyond Japanese baseball's control. What NPB can do, however, is make a more concerted effort to keep its best players in Japan.

Doing that, however, goes beyond money. It requires a change at the upper reaches of the game, from the way teams are run, to the way players are treated.

Until something changes, a majority of the best players will continue to leave Japan at the height of their popularity. Unless, of course, the NPB finally gives them a reason to stick around.